Julian Schuster described our last game against FC Augsburg as “perfect”. SCF’s head coach came to that conclusion because his team managed to win the game. However, there was still enough in the second half that gave him food for thought and things to work on in training over the past week. The 39-year-old has seen “a lot of energy” in his side both on and off the pitch.

That will definitely be needed on Saturday, because our opponents RB Leipzig are on an impressive run of form. Although RBL haven’t carried on this run in the Champions League, including in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday evening, it’s been going much better in the league. Goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi has kept a clean sheet in six of their seven Bundesliga matches so far. “That’s a very meaningful stat and we’ll have to find a way to counter this, but we’re looking forward to facing a strong opponent,” said Schuster.

Winless in Leipzig

It’s a while since SC last got the better of Saturday’s opponents. On 26th October 2019, Freiburg beat RBL 2-1 at the Dreisamstadion thanks to goals from Nils Petersen and Chicco Höfler. SCF are still winless in Leipzig, but Schuster is not fazed by this. “It’s important that we play with focus and concentration. Then, it’s about carrying on the intensity that we’ve shown during the week.”

The SC head coach is very pleased with his team’s development. “I’m interested in how we’re developing and how we’re looking at things in even more detail every week,” he said. “I’m working with players who respond to that well. It’s almost like adding new pieces to a jigsaw puzzle to make a clear picture. The puzzle will never be finished though.”

Dangerous from distance

A number of SCF fans will be supporting the U23 side at their away match in Göppingen on Saturday, while around 1,200 are set to travel to Leipzig. They might see Freiburg score a goal from distance, as Vincenzo Grifo and his teammates have been very strong from these situations. Five of our 12 goals this season have come from outside the penalty area. No Bundesliga side has scored more.